New Taipei studying feasibility of Xiulang Bridge-Gongguan metro link

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) New Taipei City will send a feasibility report on a possible metro line linking Xiulang Bridge Station in Zhonghe District with Gongguan Station in Taipei to the central government for review later this year, Mayor Hou Yi-ih (侯友宜) said Tuesday.

Speaking at an inspection tour of Xiulang Bridge Station, Hou said the city started planning the route after the Taipei City government cancelled plans for a more extensive "North South Line" in 2018.

Given the demand among Zhonghe residents for additional transportation routes to Taipei, the New Taipei city government proposed a 3.1 kilometer, four-station underground route between Xiulang Bridge and Gongguan, Hou said.

A feasibility report on the New Taipei portion of the route was started last July, and will likely be submitted to the central government for review by the middle of this year, Hou said.

Despite Taipei's initial opposition, in 2023 Taipei and New Taipei reached a consensus on extending the proposed line northward to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station, making it a total of 8 km, and calling it the Zhonghe-Guangfu Line, Hou said.

Hou's remarks Tuesday focused only on the Xiulang Bridge-Gongguan portion of the route, as Taipei has yet to give an update on its own review of the proposed line.

Currently, passengers at Xiulang Bridge Station on the Circular (Yellow) Line have to transfer to the Green Line at Dapinglin to reach Gongguan, a journey of about 20 minutes.